Next Major Android Release May Promote ART From Niche to #1 Choice

It's currently possible to select the alternative ART runtime within certain recent Android smartphones running the KitKat 4.4 code, a move that dumps the traditional Dalvik option of powering apps in favour of the new way. Rumours suggest ART may become the default whenever the L-version of Android arrives.

The suggestion comes via changes to the AOSP master branch spotted by XDA, which appear to show that the ART way of running Android may be the standard method from now on. The actual code merges that make the change come with the telling tag "Dalvik is dead, long live Dalvik!" inserted by the Android nerd responsible for the momentous change.

The ART runtime supposedly offers better battery life and a more efficient way of doing things, although benefits spotted when using it inside Android 4.4 so far are pretty slim -- and some apps currently break when using it. [XDA via Engadget]